Window sash control



March 4, 1947. c. E. NYGREN WINDOW SASH CONTROL Filed Aug. 1, 4945 Patented Mar. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a sash control for windows, and has for an object to provide an improved and simple control for Window sash, which will be much more reliable in operation, will give it better and less noisy control, and will be less apt to get out of order than the usual weight and cord control and similar devices now commonly employed.

Another object is to provide a construction in which an adjustable means is provided for providing a uniform friction in all positions of the sash, to control movement of the sash and hold it in adjusted positions, and will secure these operations without winding or unwinding a spring with its consequent variation in resistance and liability to get out of order or break.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication. It is, however, to be understood the device is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation and a. partial section of a window frame and sash with my improved control mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a view looking from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a. side view of a portion of the control mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof Figs. 5 and 6 are end and side views respectively of one form of control washer used in the device;

Fig. 'I is a partial side elevation and partial section oi' a modied form of control washer which may be used in place of that of Figs. 5 and 6, and

Figs. 8 and 9 are side and edge views of the complementary control washer.

My improved device for controlling the movements of the sash in the frame stile is shown in operative positions in Figs. l and 2. One side of the window frame ls shown at I and the upright side edge of the sash running in the stile of this frame is shown at Il. Mounted in this sash is a gear rack I2 extending for substantially the full height of the sash, and it may be secured in the sash by any suitable means such, for example, as the screws I3 in transversely extending elongated slots I4 in the rack. Suitable curved springs I may be secured to the back edge of the rack pressing against the shoulders IB of the sash so as to tend to yieldingly force the rack forwardly for a purpose presently to be described.

Mounted in the frame Ill and on the face of the stile is a plate Il which may be either secured on the face of the stile or recessed into it and held by any suitable means such as the screws IB. On the inner side of this plate and mounted in an opening in the stile is secured a. cupped member I9 in which is seated one end of a coil spring 20, the other end seating a friction washer 2| which may have on its inner side a tapered hub 22 to seat within the end coil of the spring and properly center the washer therein. Extending longitudlnally through the spring is a threaded shaft 23 passing through a. bearing opening in the plate Il and carrying a small gear 24 either integral with the shaft or secured thereto so that the two rotate together. The gear 24 meshes with the rack I2 so that as the window sash II is moved up and down and carries the rack I2 with it, it will rotate the gear 24 and the shaft 23. In order to provide a longer bearing for the outer end of the shaft 23, a plate or washer 25 may be mounted in the cupped member I9 against which the inner end of the spring rests and which washer may have an opening forming a bearing for the shaft. The washer keeps the spring from wobbling and keeps the spring and shaft properly centered.

The inner portion of the shaft 23 is provided with a longitudinal slot 26 passing through it in which is located a key 2l which is preferably a iiat bar, and threaded on the shaft outwardly of the key is an adjusting nut 28. The inner edge of the key 2l rests in a. transverse groove 29 in a friction washer 30 mounted on the shaft and movable longitudinally thereof and resting against the outer surface of the washer 2 I. With this arrangement it will be seen that the key 21 connects the shaft to the washer 30 so that this washer rotates with the shaft 23 and the gear 24. However, the washer 2| is held stationary by the spring and, therefore, a frictional resistance is provided between the Washer 30 and the washer 2l. The amount of this friction may be varied by adjusting the nut 28 along the threaded portion 3| of the shaft to adjust the tension of the spring 20, and it will be seen that as the washer 38, the key 21 and the nut 28 rotate with the shalt there is no tendency for this operation to change the position of the nut on the shaft, so that any desired adjustment after once being made is maintained. Instead of the washer 2| having its hub 22 fitting within the coil spring, this washer may be formed as a cupped member, as shown at 32 Fig. 7, with its side flanges 33 litting over the outer edge of the end coll of the spring and providing a friction with the washer 30, the same as does the washer 2l.

It will be understood from the above that moving the sash II up and down will shift with it the rack I2 and will rotate the gear 24 and the shaft 23. This will in turn rotate the friction washer 30 against the friction between this Washer and the washer 2| on the end of the spring 20. This friction will depend upon the pressure of the spring 20, and this may be adjusted 0x varied to suit the weight of the sash by adjusting the nut 28. For the ordinary size sash one unit only will be required for each sash, but for large or heavy sash two or more units may be employed for each sash, as is found desirable or necessary. The springs I5 yieldingly force the rack I2 against the gear 24 and therefore automatically compensate for any relative wear between the gear and rack and maintain a good meshing fit between them at all times.

It will be seen from the above that there is no winding of a spring in operating the sash, and, therefore, there is no variation in resistance to movement of the sash caused by variation in the diiereut amount such a spring would be wound. On the other hand, in the present construction the spring provides a. control friction between relatively rotating Washers, so that this friction is constant and provides a uniform resistance at all positions of the sash. There is no flexing of the spring in operation, so that it will last indefinitely. The gear and rack may be made of a suitable plastic so that they are much quieter in operation than metal parts would be, and they would also be free of rust. The spring also may be made of various materials which would not rust or deteriorate, such. for example, as a plastic or even glass.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. A control device of the character described. comprising a rack adapted to be mounted on a sliding sash, a support adapted to be mounted in a stile of a window frame in which the sash is slidable, a shaft mounted in the support, a, gear secured to the shaft for meshing with the rack, a coil spring embracing the shaft, a friction washer slidable on the shaft and seated against the inner end of the spring, and a second friction Washer having frictional engagement with the first Washer and keyed to the shaft to be rotated thereby.

2. A control device of the character described, comprising a rack adapted to be mounted on a sliding sash, a support adapted to be mounted in a stile of a window frame in which the sash is slidable, a shaft mounted in the support, a gear secured to the shaft for meshing with the rack, a coil spring embracing the shaft, a friction washer slidable on the shaft and seated against the inner end of the spring, a second friction washer slidable on the shaft and having frictional engagement with the first washer, means for keying the second washer to the shaft to be rotated thereby, and a nut threaded on the shaft for adjustment thereon to vary the tension of the spring and the pressure between the washers.

3. A control device of the character described, comprising a rack adapted to be mounted on a sliding sash. a. support adapted to be mounted in a stile of a window frame in which the sash is slidable, a shaft mounted in the support, a gear secured to the shaft for meshing with the rack, a coil spring embracing the shaft, a friction washer slidable on the shaft and seated against the inner end of the spring, a second friction washer slidable on the shaft and having frictional engagement with the rst washer, said shaft being provided with a longitudinally extending slot therethrough, a key extending transversely through the slot, means on the second washer cooperating with the key to turn the washer with the shaft, and a nut threaded on the shaft arranged to hold the key against the second Washer and adjustable on the shaft to vary the tension of the spring and thus the friction between the Washers.

4. A control device 0f the character described comprising a rack adapted to be mounted on a sliding sash, a support including a plate adapted to be mounted on the stile of a window frame in which the sash is slidable and also including a housing secured to the plate and adapted to be mounted in an opening in the stile, a shaft extending through the plate and into the housing, a gear secured on the shaft and meshing with the rack, a coil spring embracing the shaft and seated at one end in the housing, a friction washer seated against the other end of the spring and slidable on the shaft, and a second friction washer mounted on the shaft frictionally en gaging the first washer and secured to the shaft so as to be rotated thereby.

5. A control device according to claim 4, in which the second friction washer is slidable on the shaft, and there is a nut threaded on the shaft pressing the second washer against the first washer and adjustable on the shaft to vary the tension of the spring and therefore to vary the pressure between the washers and the frictional resistance between them.

6. In a device of the character described, a rack adapted to be mounted on an upright edge of a. sash slidable in s. frame, a support adapted to be mounted in the stile of the frame adjacent the sash, a shaft in the support, a gear secured to the shaft for meshing with the rack, means for mounting the rack for movement toward and from the gear, resilient means tending to force the rack toward the gear to maintain proper meshing between them, a spring embracing the shaft, a friction washer at one end of the spring, and a second washer frictionally engaging the first washer and secured to the shaft to be r0- tated thereby, the first washer being held against the second by the spring to maintain the friction between the washers.

7. A control device of the character described comprising a rack adapted to be mounted on a sliding sash, a support adapted to be mounted on the stile of a frame in which the sash is slidable, a shaft mounted in the support, a gear secured on the shaft for meshing with the rack, a coil spring seated at one end in the support, a friction washer seated against the other end of the spring and slidable on the shaft, and a second friction washer frictionally engaging the first washer and secured to the shaft so as to be rotated thereby.

CHARLES E. I\TYGREN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,195,167 Karl Aug. l5, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,393 British Sept. l, 1910 

